Recoil-brake for automatic guns.



No. 812,326. 'PATBNTED FEB.13, 1906.

' J. M. BROWNING.

RECOIL BRAKE FOR AUTOMATIC GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED JUIE so, 1904.

FIG-.2.

FIG. 3.

Attorney JOHN M. BROWNING, OF OGDEN, UTAH.

RECOlL-BRAKE FoR AUTOMATIC GUNS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 30,1904. Serial No. 214,773.

- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN M. BROWNING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ogden, in the county of Weber and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Recoil-Brakes for Automatic Guns, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to friction-brakes for automatic guns.

The object of the invention is to adjust the adapted to the conditions of use with different cartridges.

In my Patent No. 689,283, of December 17, 1901 I describe a brake mechanism for reducing the shock of recoil upon therear end of the frame of the gun and also reducing the shock of the return of the barrel to its normal or firing position. The present invention is an improvement thereon and is appliable to the automatic gun of that invention or to other guns of like general character.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a broken longitudinal section of an automatic gun and for convenience ma be supposed to be the gun of the patent re erred to with the present in vention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a broken longitudinal section of the brake mechanism of the present invention, the barrel-lug being slightl forward. Fig. 3 is a detached elevation of the contractile collar-brake. (Shown in former patent.) Flg. 4 is a partial section and partial elevation of the brake mechanism of this invention. Fig. 5 is a erspective of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a perspective of the clam ing-ring. Fig. 7 is a rear erspective of t e adjustment ring or control er.

Assuming the gun to be substantially of the characterdescribed in my former patent or erfiiivalent thereto, let A indicate the barrel; the stock; 0 the magazine, and D the barrel-returning spring.

In order to reduce the shock of recoil upon .the rear end of the frame of the gun, to reduce the shock of the return of the barrel to its normal position under the action of the barrel-spring, and to prevent any rattling in the connection-between the barrel and the magazine, I employ a contractile collar-brake which operates frictionally upon the magazine. This consists of a split collar 1, formed at its forward end with a conical or beveled flange 2, which is also split, so as to be contractile. The collar 1 is encircled by a split clamping-collar 3, preferably made of steel, and exerting a constant effort to contract the collar 1 and the beveled or conical flange 2 thereof. This composite brake is interposed between the forward end of the barrel-spring D and the rear edge of the perforated lug 5, depending from the gun-barrel A and adapted to receive the forward end of the tubular magazine C. The rear face of the perforated lug 5 is formed with a beveled shoulder 7 to coac-t with the beveled flange 2 of the brake. When the gun is fired and the barrel starts rearward, a portion of the force of the recoil will act, through the beveled shoulder 7, upon the beveled flange 2, which will be contracted and which will in turn contract the collar 1, so as to cause the same to gras the magazine D and slide over the same Wit suflicient resistance to materially reduce the shock of recoil and prevent the rear end of the bolt from being impinged with too much severity upon the rear end of the receiver. This I call the recoil-brake action of m ilnproved composite collar-brake. Now when the barrelspring D operates to return the barrel to its normal position the split clamping-collar 3 o erates by its contractile power to squeeze t e collar 1 upon the magazine with sufficient power to develop enough friction to moderate the action of the spring D. This maybe called the barrel-spring braking action of my improved composite collar-brake. Of course the crowding of the flange 2 of the collar 1 forward against the bevel-shoulder 7 heightens the clamping action to a certain extent during the return movement of the barrel. Furthermore, at all times the coaction of the flange-2 and shoulder 7 prevents any rattling between the barrel and the magazine forated lug 5.

It will be understood that the braking action is greater during the recoil movement of the barrel than during the return movement of the barrel, and that is as it should be, because the power of the recoil is always greater than the ower of the barrel-spring.

So far l have substantially described the brake mechanism of the atent referred to.

In the present invention add to such mech- Patented Feb. 13, 1906.

due to their connection through the peranism a controlling-ring 8, which surrounds the magazine in front of spring D. The front end of the ring 8 is beveled, as indicated at 9. The rear end of the collar 1 may also be beveled, as shown, although this is not essential.

The forward pressure of spring D forces ring 8 over the rear end of split collar 1, thus compressing said collar onto the magazine by a wedge action. Clamping erted increases the .frictiona. resistance to re coil of the barrel and to return of the barrel to normal position.

The ring 8 can be quietly applied to or removed from the brake mechanism of my former patent. l -Then removed, the ring can be conveniently stored on the magazine in rear oi the spring D and next to the receiver, although it need not be so stored. This appli cable and removable controlling-ring 8 is a valuable addition to the brake mechanism of the gun described and is, so far as i know, the first mechanism for adjusting the resistance of the brake for an automatic gun to recoil and countenrecoil under changed conditions due to the firing of increased or diminished charges.

While the magazine is most convenient part for the frictiondirake to operate on, it is evident that any other piece or part which is rigid with the stock and extends llel with the barrel would serve the same purpose as the magazine What 1 claim is 1. In an automatic gun, the combination with a recoiling barrel. a trictien-brake connected with the barrel and operating through the recoiling movement of the barrel for reducing the shock of recoil, and means sepa- Fressurc thus e rate from the barrel for increasing the friction of said brake upon the firing of the gun.

2. In an automatic gun, the combination of a recoiling barrel, a magazine, a frictionbrake connected to the barrel to move rear- Ward therewith and reduce the shock of recoil, and auxiliary means separate from the barrel for increasing the friction of said brake on the magazine upon the firing of the gun.

in an automatic gun, the combination l with a recoiling barrel, of a tubular magazine,

a friction-brake connecting with the magazine over which it rules to reduce the shock of recoil, and auxiliarv means separate from the barrel for increasing the friction of the brake on the magazine upon the firing of the gun.

4-. in an automatic gun, the combination with a recoiling barrel, of a Friction-brake connected with the barrel and reducing the shock when the barrel is recoiling, and braking the shock following the return of the barrel to firing position, and auxiliary means independent of the barrel and removable from the brake, for regulating the friction of said brake upon the 'liring of the gun.

An automatic gun, a rccoiling barrel, a split collar connected thereto, a rigid piece parallel with the barrel and surrounded by said coil 1, the spring for returning the barrel, and a beveled ring pressed by said spring against said collar to contract the same.

in testimony whereof I, affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN M. l3 ROVVN IN G.

Witnesses:

'Tirnononn DE W. Moonn, Curls. W, MANY. 

